Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

This will be a pretty short story, probably between thirty and fifty thousand words. I know this first chapter is super short, but I hope you give this a chance! I think it'll be really good… hopefully...

PS I'm not JK Rowling, so I don't own anything :(

Chapter 1: Seriously?

"I know this might seem a little unorthodox to ask, all things considered, but will you be my Maid of Honor?" Rose asked, hands clasped beneath her elfin chin as she aimed huge, brown puppy eyes at her younger cousin.

Lily had been out with Al, the two of them grabbing a drink at the Three Broomsticks that night to console Lily after the bomb that had been dropped at the Burrow earlier that day. Rose must have tracked her down expressly for the purpose of asking her this question.

Did Rose truly hate her so much? Didn't she understand what she was asking?

"Me?" Lily gasped, horrified by the prospect.

Unorthodox? Seriously? Her closest cousin was only marrying Scorpius Malfoy - Lily's ex-boyfriend. The very same wizard she'd dated for over four years during her years at Hogwarts, followed by a little over one very messy and complicated year after she'd graduated. The very same Scor that had dumped her eight months earlier when she refused to drop everything, give up her promising career, and move to Paris with him - when he'd given her twelve hours notice to decide the entire course of her future.

The only wizard she'd ever willingly loved.

The only wizard she'd ever slept with.

The very same wizard she'd wrongfully believed was pining over her and was returning to set things right between them.

At least she had, up until three hours earlier when he'd shattered her delusion good and proper with the news that he'd not only started dating someone new, but that he was marrying her. They hadn't even been dating for four months yet!

Bloody hell! Where the hell was that bartender with her drink? She'd only asked for a double firewhiskey for each of her and Al, but judging by the look on Rose's face, she should have asked for at least three doubles. How in Merlin's pants was she supposed to gracefully refuse?

Of course, that was the thing. She couldn't bloody refuse, not without announcing to all of her family and friends that she was still hung up on Scor. A state he clearly no longer felt.

"This must seem so sudden. We never even told anyone we were together! And I know, given all of our history, this might be hard for you -"

"It's not hard," Lily promised.

More like agonizing. Telling Scor no had been the biggest regret of her life. One she'd been planning for the last three months to rectify.

She'd had the entire conversation planned out. Practiced it at least a dozen times. Knew exactly what needed to happen when he showed up today. He'd Flooed to warn her he was coming a few days earlier. But that's all he'd said - that he was coming home and wanted to talk to her.

Lily had been thrilled. Over the moon. The stars were finally aligning. It was perfect. She was going to get her second chance. And she'd not even needed to go groveling to him!

At least, she had known what she'd planned to do - before he'd arrived with his fiance, Rose Weasley in tow. Rose, as in Lily's cousin. Her older, smarter cousin - the British Minister of Magic's daughter. The very same cousin that was currently asking Lily to be her Maid of Honor.

Could tonight get any worse?

Seriously?

"Then you will?" Rose breathed, jumping up and down excitedly. Clapping her hands in delight, and positively beaming at her. She looked just like her mother tonight, all sleek and elegant and commanding, but with the trademark Weasley red hair.

Wait, what?

When had the word yes ever crossed Lily's lips? She was certain it hadn't. That it wouldn't. Not in a million fucking years. Yet Rose was pretending it had. Had the witch gone temporarily deaf?

"I mean -" Lily began, starting to panic.

Was it getting ridiculously hot in here? Did anyone else notice the insane heat of the place?

"You're my closest female friend. I can't tell you what this means to me!" Rose exclaimed, clearly ecstatic as she darted away.

Lily watched, stunned, as Rose launched herself across the room at Scor. The blond wizard with perfectly chiseled cheekbones and smoldering grey eyes caught Rose's lanky form easily, swinging the giddy witch around in merry circles as they celebrated.

As awful as it was, she wished the floor would open up beneath their feet and that they'd plummet into an endless chasm. Not really, but she wouldn't mind them disappearing for a bit. Tonight was supposed to have been about her forgetting, scrubbing the image of the perfect, happy couple from her mind.

It was then that the bartender finally arrived, depositing two double shots of firewhiskey in front of Lily. Shrugging, she knocked back first one, then the other as she watched the nauseating scene unfold before her. A trail of heat made a sinewy path down her chest, flames licking at her throat in a way that was borderline painful. Precisely what she wanted just then.

Al, the shiest Potter to ever walk the planet, wouldn't mind getting his own. Well, he would, but he'd understand. Eventually.

Lily signaled the barkeep, Hannah Longbottom's young replacement Liv or Mia or Jen - something with three letters that she hadn't bothered to pay attention to when first told - but the witch held up a finger indicating it'd be a moment.

"Great," Lily sighed, slumping down on her stool.

"Here. For you," a soft voice said from her elbow just before a full shot glass was set down in front of her.

"Thanks," Lily said, grinning and swallowing the contents and relishing the fiery burn. "Make it two and - oh!" Lily gasped, startled by the sight of the newcomer.

Shaggy turquoise hair and glittering sea-foam green eyes greeted her from a face that was both familiar and not. The same high cheekbones and strong, square jaw that she remembered, but somehow even more defined than the last time she'd seen them. The final touches added to a mostly completed sculpture. The man before her was a faded photograph that she'd not seen since childhood. A forgotten dream that left only an indecipherable emotional impression behind when the sleeper woke.

More than ten years. It had been more than ten years since Teddy fled Britain, unable to remain after the dual tragedies that rocked his world. Last Lily heard, he'd never planned to return. Merlin knew Harry and Jamie had been trying to get him back for years.

Teddy had not changed a bit. Except perhaps there was a bit more weariness in his eyes than there had been when he was nineteen. A bit more muscle on his frame too.

"Good oh?" he asked cautiously, one side of his lips quirking up in a reluctantly amused half-smile.

"Yes?" Lily tried, the surrealness of the moment settling in.

"I'm going to ignore the question in that statement and take it as an invitation instead," he announced, pulling a nearby stool closer and taking a seat.

Lily swallowed, feeling heat brush her cheeks at his frank appraisal of her body. She'd never expected Teddy to look at her like that. Not like she was shaggable. But he most definitely was. There was no other way to describe the lazy way his eyes trailed over her in a nearly tangible caress that had gooseflesh rising on her arms and a shiver cascading down her spine.

Thank Merlin she was still decked out from her attempt to impress Scor. Loosely curled hair, sultry yet understated makeup, and flattering dress were all perfect after spending nearly two hours getting ready for their reunion. At least all that effort wasn't a complete waste. Teddy seemed to be appreciating it immensely.

Teddy had been Lily's first crush. Back before she started Hogwarts. She used to fancy herself in love with him the way her mum had loved her dad as a child. She'd thought it would be so romantic to grow up and eventually marry her first crush the same way. But then he'd gone and fallen for another one of her cousins, Victorie. Then… well… it all went to hell.

The barkeep headed back over, interrupting Teddy's slow perusal. With a challenging grin, he asked, "Sure you want another?"

"Definitely," she rasped, finding it difficult to form the word when his gaze was focused so intently on her.

"I'm Teddy by the way," he added easily, tearing his pale, gemstone eyes away to give the witch his order.

Lily felt her jaw drop. He didn't recognize her. He thought she was just some random witch he was hitting on in the pub.

She couldn't believe it. It had been ten years, yes, but Teddy practically grew up in her house. Okay, well, when he wasn't at Hogwarts, which he had been for most of her life before he left. But still!

In a split second, Lily made the decision to play with him a bit. It would definitely take her mind off the snogging couple in the booth across the way. Plastering a teasing smile on her face, Lily coyly asked, "Do you always buy girls you don't know drinks?"

"I just got back to town this afternoon, and you looked like you could use a drink," Teddy said astutely. Slowly, giving her a chance to pull away, Teddy reached out to take her hand. When she let him, he threaded his fingers with hers, brushing his thumb softly against her. "Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to come over and talk to you."

Rose's laughter echoed through the room, drowning out the other patrons, and making Lily's teeth momentarily grind together. Teddy's thumb stroked over her again, recapturing her attention.

"I could do with a whole bottle to be honest, but I'm glad you did," Lily admitted.

Lily's breath caught when Teddy leaned forward, tipping his head until his warm breath fanned over her neck, sending her pulse skyrocketing, as he suggestively whispered, "How about some company tonight?"

"For drinking or…" she breathed, hardly daring to believe Teddy Lupin had just propositioned her.

"I rented a room upstairs. I can get a bottle, then why don't I let you decide what happens after that?" he said, his head dipping closer until his lips brushed the shell of her ear erotically as he spoke.

"Do you always proposition witches whose names you don't know?" Lily said, unconsciously tilting her head to give him better access. Teddy took the hint, and leaned down to press a kiss against the column of her neck. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult given his proximity.

"This will actually be a first, but I'm a little nervous being back, and you're… well, too beautiful to ignore," he said, and a nervous quiver had entered his voice giving it an uncertain edge that Lily suspected meant he was being truthful.

"Grab a bottle. I'll be up in five," she said, anticipation making her feel jittery and light-headed.

She couldn't believe what was happening. It was the very last thing she'd expected to happen when Al suggested they go out for a drink to drown her sorrows. Shite - Al! Where was he? Had his girlfriend arrived to distract him, or was he making nice with his newly returned best mate?

"Room seven," Teddy said, accepting the bottle held out over the bar and giving her a wide grin before he sauntered off towards the staircase in the back.

"Lils, was that?" Al asked uncertainly, sliding into Teddy's vacated seat before she had to go in search of him. "I thought, but I wasn't sure, and you…"

"Yes," she admitted quietly, suddenly worried about his reaction.

"What the hell are you playing at?" Al demanded, staring at Lily as though she'd suddenly sprouted pustules all over her face.

"Don't tell Jamie," Lily begged, knowing her eldest brother would go ballistic at the thought of her not just hooking up with someone, but specifically with Teddy.

Jamie and Teddy had always been the closest. The two genuinely behaved like brothers. Teddy had often tried to include Al, but the middle Potter tended to prefer solitude or flying as opposed to Jamie's more boisterous and comical habits.

And Lily had been too young. Not even two yet when Teddy started Hogwarts. They'd become pen pals after Teddy moved away, but even that tapered off when Lily began dating Scor at the start of her fourth year.

"When Dad finds out -"

"You're not going to tell him!" Lily hissed, horrified at the idea that her brother would ruin her dad's image of her as a pristine little angel.

Being a Potter meant there were always eyes on her, and she'd been very careful to never do anything that could get back to her family. She'd seen how they reacted to Jamie's escapades, and she'd not wanted to put them through that with her. But tonight… She just wanted to live. Really live.

Teddy was an opportunity she'd never expected.

"No, but -"

"Well, I'm certainly not. And I doubt Teddy will," Lily argued, rationally pointing out that they had nothing to worry about.

"Did you know he was coming back?" Al asked suddenly, a little hurt that he'd not been informed. He might not have been as close to Teddy, but he'd missed the metamorphmagus over the years too.

"No. Mum said dad's been asking more than usual, but I never thought he would," Lily said wonderingly. She'd have to see if she could find out what prompted the sudden return.

"Yeah… not after…"

"I know," Lily acknowledged, sharing a pained look with her brother.

"So, you're what, going to shag him?"

"I…" Lily glanced over to watch Rose and Scor for a minute. The two were cuddled up in a booth together. Rose's arms were looped around the blond's neck and he was nuzzling her cheek. They looked perfectly smitten with one another, and oblivious to the crowd present. "I need this."

"I can't believe he's agreed to this with you of all people," Al stated flatly, shaking his head at her. He stopped mid motion, his eyes widening in response to a flicker of something he saw on her face. "Lily?" he prompted quietly.

"He didn't exactly recognize me," she admitted wearily, wincing at the expression on her brother's face.

"You're making a mistake," he warned.

"It's my mistake to make," she insisted, hugging him briefly before heading upstairs.